GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026

Cargo Charter Flights

Unlike scheduled air freight, where space is sold at tariff rates on fixed routes, a cargo charter flight involves hiring an entire aircraft exclusively for a single shipment or mission.

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Last updated: 16 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_charter

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Logistics Concept

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1 min

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Definition & Explanation

Unlike scheduled air freight, where space is sold at tariff rates on fixed routes, a cargo charter flight involves hiring an entire aircraft exclusively for a single shipment or mission. Shippers and forwarders turn to this option when time-critical consignments, exceptional cargo volumes, or specialized loads – hazardous materials, live animals, or oversized industrial equipment – cannot be fitted into scheduled services. Route, departure time, and any intermediate stops are negotiated individually; the aircraft operates solely for the charterer. Costs run substantially higher than scheduled air freight rates, but capacity constraints and route restrictions are eliminated entirely. Cargo charters are a well-established, if resource-intensive, tool for humanitarian relief operations, industrial plant transports, and acute supply chain disruptions.